Proton lifetime is longer than 1034 years

2009/Nov./25

According to the preliminary result of proton decay (Proton ⇒ Positoron + Pi-zero) search using data from a 172.8kton・year exposure of Super-Kamiokande(1996-2008), we found that the lower limit on the proton lifetime reached 1.01x1034 years. This result means that we have reached the lifetime region (1034~1036 years) predicted by the most simple theories and we may be on the verge of discovery of the proton decay.

We will run the detector and accumulate more data in quest of the proton decay phenomena.